Immaculata has a long tradition of preparing professional leaders in the field of nutrition and health promotion. The Nutrition and Dietetics Department continues to meet this challenge by providing programs that offer practice-based professional education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The Undergraduate Dietetics Program consists of an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), leading to eligibility to apply to a dietetics internship and ultimately qualify for the Registered Dietitian credential. 

The Graduate Nutrition Education Program offers a diverse blend of coursework to meet the unique needs of every graduate student. Different options are available for obtaining a master’s degree in Nutrition Education depending upon the individual’s background and career goals.

The Dietetics option in the program combines the M.A. degree in Nutrition Education with an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics dietetic internship. The Advanced Dietetics Practice option, reflecting the department’s commitment to graduate education for the registered dietitian (R.D.), provides a program for the R.D. that can be tailored to meet professional needs and area(s) of interest. The Nutrition and Wellness Promotion option provides a foundation in nutrition science and education combined with a range of elective course choices, for students from a variety of health-related or education disciplines.

Undergraduate Program

This program will enable students to:

• Meet the requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for application to a dietetic internship program
• Obtain basic knowledge of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, changing nutrition needs throughout the life cycle, foodservice operations, food science, nutrition counseling, and other course content needed as a foundation for dietetics practice
• Utilize nutrition literature and resources and integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources
• Gain real-world experience in the practice of clinical and community nutrition and of foodservice through supervised field placements and classroom instruction
• Prepare for entry-level positions in nutrition and foodservice settings

Graduate Program

This program will enable students to:

• Obtain in-depth knowledge of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, changing nutrition needs throughout the life cycle, and specialized topics in applied nutrition
• Communicate nutrition information to a variety of audiences, utilizing knowledge of interpersonal communication, program development and implementation, and counseling skills
• Develop, implement, evaluate and present original research
• Utilize nutrition literature and resources, integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources, and apply this knowledge to complex, real-world human situations
• Develop enhanced knowledge and skills that prepare the student to obtain an entry-level position in the field of Dietetics (internship option), or advance to higher-level career positions and leadership opportunities in the field of Nutrition (Advanced Dietetics Practice)  or other chosen field (Wellness/Health Promotion option)

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